Improvement in valves for water-closets



W. SMITH. Valve for Water-Closet.

No. 206,049. Patented July 16, I878.

PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON 0 c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

WILLIAM SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPRQVEMENT IN VALVES FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,049, dated uly 1 17 applicati filed January 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SMITH, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful ImprovedValve for Water-Closets, which invention is fully described and setforth in the following specification and accompanying drawmgs.

In the drawings herein referred to, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved valve as applied to a water-closet basin and worked by apull-handle. Fig. 2 is a top view of the valve when it occupies ahorizontal position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through thevalve-body and plunger, and it shows the position of the parts when thevalve is open to admit the water. Fig. 4 is a view of the head of thevalve. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the body of the valve, and a viewof the plunger that controls the admission of the water to the ways orchannels in the body of the valve. Fig. 6 is aseotional view of theupper part or cap of the valve-shell.

My invention has for its object to produce a valve which, when opened,shall close automatically with the pressure of the water and con trolthe supply to the basin, and shall operate to admit the water in atriplemanner, or in three portions, first to the basin, next to theejector-pipe, and last to the basin again.

It consists in the peculiar construction of a valve-shell, with ways orchannels within it, oommunicating'with the two outlets, a plunger-valvecontrolling the admission of the water to the several channels inregular order, and operated in one direction by pressure from a lever ora stem and in the opposite direction by a spring and the pressure of thewater, and a valve proper connected with and operating at the same timeas the plunger, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the main portion of thevalve-shell; L, the coupling, having the curved neck M, to which thesupply-pipe is attached; and J ,-the cap or upper portion, within whichthe top of the plunger R works.

The chamber I of the valve-body has the two outlets N N, one for thepipe E to supply water to the basin, and the other for the ejector-pipeD, that connects with the discharge-pipe H of the basin, to force thecontents of the closet up the inclined pipe H and into the pipe Hconnecting with the sewer.

The basin represented in the drawing is formed of porcelain, in onepiece, with a manhole and cover at the bend of the pipes to affordfacilities for cleaning, and the valve is placed in a horizontalposition within a drippan, and is operated by the pull-rod O and leverB, as will be readily understood from Fig. 1; but where this valve isused with closets in which the water is let into the basin by the actionof a tilting seat, the valve will occupy a vertical position, or so thatthe pressure upon the seat can be applied directly to the head of thespindle K.

The interior of the valve consists of the water-chamber A I, in whichare the valve-seat b at the bottom and the ways or channels d e e at theupper part of the chamber I, and the chamber J for the upper end of theplunger It, in which is formed the outlet-tube f y, controlled by theplug 0.

The parts within the valve for controlling the admission of the waterare composed of the valve a, covering the seat I), the plunger R,governing the channels at e e, that lead to the outlets N N, and thecoil-spring S, for returning the valve to its seat when the pressureupon the head of the spindle K is removed. The rod of the valve a screwsinto the end of the spindle K and through the head of the plunger 1%, sothat these parts are all connected rigidly together, and the valve a andplunger It move up and down at the same time.

The plunger is provided with the openings or ports 0, which, as theplunger moves upward within the chamber, admit the Water in regularsuccession, first to the lowest channel c, then to the center one, (1,and last to the upper channel 0.

\Vhen the plunger is in its lowest position and the valve to is open toits fullest extent, these ports 0 are in line with the channel 6, asseen in Fig. 3, and the top of the plunger is just within the chamber J,it being surrounded by the washer i, that separates the chamber J fromthe valve-chamber A I. This washer acts as a valve to allow the water topass above the washer into the chamber, but prevents any backward flowbetween the valve shell A and the plunger B, so that when the plungerand valve (1 are pressed down to a lmit the water this upper chamber Jbecomes tilled with water above the head of the plunger.

An outlet for this water is provided through the exhaust passage andtube f g, whereby it is discharged into the chamber I in a gradualmanner, and these passages are controlled by the plug 0, by which theflow is graduated. When the spindle K is relieved from the pressure uponit, the plunger and valve 0- are prevented from returning immediatelyinto position by the presence of the water in the chamber J, whichcounteracts the pressure against the back of the valve a and the actionof the spring S, and thus the valve (1 rises in a gradual manner to shutoff the water, which, as the plunger rises, is directed first into thechannel 1' and then into the channels (I and 0 until the valve (1 risesto its seat and closes the opening.

The rapidity at which the water in the chamber J is discharged regulatesthe time of closing of the valve (1, and thus, by increasing ordiminishing the outlet through the pztssage f and tube 9 by turning theplug (l, the water admitted through the valven and to theclosct isincreased or diminished in quantity as the plunger is caused to risewith a slower or quicker motion after the spindle I\' has been depressedand relieved.

The outlet N, connecting with the pipe 1), constitutesthe ejector, andthe one Non theopposite side of the valve supplies water through thepipe E, and as these two outlets communicate with the channels (I e e,governed by the plunger R, the water passes first through the lowestchannel 0 and to the basin to wet its contents, then through the channel(I to the cjcctorl), and tinallytothc basin again through the channel 0,to till up the basin with clean water ready for use again. A properquantity of water is at this time supplied to the basin to cover themouth of the inclined pipe llaud etibctually close it against the escapeof any gases.

\Vhere my improved valve is used with closets operating by means of atilting or swinging seat, by which pressure is applied to the stem orspindle ot' the valve, I place the valve in a vertical position, sothatwhen the seat is turned down for use and the weight of the person isthrown upon the spindle K the plunger It will be depressed and the valveopened; but in such case the plunger R must have a greater motiondownward in order to cause it to cover the channel .9 and hold the waterwithin the chamber A from passing out through the ports 0 c, which,while the closet is in use, must be in position below the first channel0, so that when the weight on the seat is removed the water will beginto flow as the plunger R rises.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The chamber A I, with asingle inlet controlled by a valve, 11, and two outlets, N N, withdetached channels (I e 0, controlled by a plunger, 1, in combinationwith the air-tight chamber J, having the outlet-passage f y, constrncted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a water-closet valve, the three detached channels (I c 0 withinthe valve-chamber, connecting with the outlets N N, in combination withthe plunger R, having ports 0 c, constructed and applied to operatesubstantiall y as described and set forth.

3. In a watercloset valve having the inlet 11, outlets N N, detachedchannels d e c, and pressure-cliamber J, the valve a and plunger 1%,rigidly connected together and operated in one direction by pressureupon a stem or spindle, K, and in the opposite direction by the actionof a spring and the pressure of the incoming stream of water,constructed and applied to operate substantially as herein de scribedand set forth.

4. A valve for controlling the supply of water to the basin and trap orejector of waterclosets, having one inlet, b, controlled by a valve, andtwo outlets, N N, communicating with the chamber of the valve throughthree detached channels, (I c 0, controlled by a plunger, substantiallyas herein described, whereby the water admitted to the valve is directedfirst to the basin, then to the trap or ejectorpipe, and lastly to thebasin again, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the ibregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 6th day of December, 1877.

WM. SMITH. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

(1. W. M. SMITH, E. V. SITTTER.

